Houses of worship are preparing migrants for encounters with immigration agents Houses of worship and faith-based groups in the Los Angeles area are responding to ongoing federal immigration actions in the region. Among their efforts: educating migrants about their rights and creating plans for if immigration agents show up at their doors. Jason DeRose
Los Angeles houses of worship plan for possible ICE raids Churches in Los Angeles put contingency plans in place after the Trump administration rescinds long-standing guidance advising immigration agents to avoid houses of worship. Jason DeRose
Pope Leo XIV calls on Catholics to see the urgency of protecting the environment The Vatican has released a new liturgy for the Mass reflecting concern for the environment, offering prayers, readings and hymns that highlight the church's responsibility to protect the Earth. Claire Giangrave
Diocese of San Bernardino issues dispensation saying Catholics who fear ICE don't have to attend Mass The diocese is the first in the U.S. to issue a special dispensation because of fears over immigration detentions. Aleja Hertzler-McCain
IRS says churches can now endorse political candidates Since 1954, an IRS rule had barred houses of worship from explicitly endorsing political candidates. Daniel Burke
Pope Leo's scandal-plagued hometown sees a bright future in buying his childhood home Pope Leo grew up in a small brick house in the Chicago suburb of Dolton which is now up for auction. The village's board of trustees voted to buy it, in the hopes of creating a historic attraction. Rachel Treisman
The Dalai Lama's succession As Dalai Lama turns 90, he says he will not be the last spiritual leader of Tibet's Buddhists — there will be a successor. Omkar Khandekar
Dalai Lama says successor will be named after his death The Dalai Lama said he will be reincarnated after he dies, and no one can interfere with the matter of succession. The Chinese government, however, claims authority over the his succession. Anthony Kuhn
A rare German Bible found in Texas is now digitized A 1983 routine cleaning at Boerne High School in Texas yielded a rare and precious find: a thick, ornate Bible wrapped in cloth and written in low German. Now it will soon be seen online. Jack Morgan
Pilgrims and clergy gather in remote Alaska village to canonize first Yup'ik saint The Orthodox Christian tradition is strong in the tiny village of Kwethluk, Alaska. It recently welcomed clergy and pilgrims from around the world to canonize a local midwife and healer as a saint.